Psalm 38

Psalm 38

A psalm by David; to be kept in mind. 

¹O Lord, do not angrily punish me 

or discipline me in your wrath. 

²Your arrows have struck me. 

Your hand has struck me hard. 

³No healthy spot is left on my body 

because of your rage. 

There is no peace in my bones 

because of my sin. 

⁴My guilt has overwhelmed me. 

Like a heavy load, it is more than I can bear. 

⁵My wounds smell rotten. 

They fester because of my stupidity. 

⁶I am bent over and bowed down very low. 

All day I walk around in mourning. 

⁷My insides are filled with burning pain, 

and no healthy spot is left on my body. 

⁸I am numb and completely devastated. 

I roar because my heart’s in turmoil. 

⁹You know all my desires, O Lord, 

and my groaning has not been hidden from you. 

¹⁰My heart is pounding. 

I have lost my strength. 

Even the light of my eyes has left me. 

¹¹My loved ones and my friends keep their distance 

and my relatives stand far away because of my sickness. 

¹²Those who seek my life lay traps for me. 

Those who are out to harm me talk about ruining me. 

All day long they think of ways to deceive me. 

¹³But I am like a person who cannot hear 

and like a person who cannot speak. 

¹⁴I am like one who cannot hear 

and who can offer no arguments. 

¹⁵But I wait with hope for you, O Lord. 

You will answer, O Lord, my God. 

¹⁶I said, “Do not let them gloat over me. 

When my foot slips, 

do not let them promote themselves at my expense.” 

¹⁷I am ready to fall. 

I am continually aware of my pain. 

¹⁸I confess my guilt. 

My sin troubles me. 

¹⁹My mortal enemies are growing stronger. 

Many hate me for no reason. 

²⁰They pay me back with evil instead of good, 

and they accuse me because I try to do what is good. 

²¹Do not abandon me, O Lord. 

O my God, do not be so distant from me. 

²²Come quickly to help me, O Lord, my savior.